AANA Timeline History

The AANA has a proud history of serving the anesthesia profession. The AANA Archives preserves the history of the AANA, and by extension the history of the nurse anesthesia profession, through items that document the activities of the AANA since its founding in 1931. Documents, publications, photographs, memorabilia, audiovisual items, and anesthesia equipment are included in the Archives' collections. The AANA Library comprises a small collection of books and journals on anesthesia and related healthcare topics.

1877

Sister Mary Bernard, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania, becomes first nurse to specialize in anesthesia

1893

Alice Magaw begins working as nurse anesthetist at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn., for Dr. Charles Mayo. He later bestows upon her the title "Mother of Anesthesia" for her mastery of open drop ether

1931

Agatha Hodgins founds National Association of Nurse Anesthetists (NANA) on June 17 in Cleveland, Ohio, the first national association of anesthesia providers in U.S.

1933

First Annual Meeting is in Milwaukee with 120 attendees; Agatha Hodgins elected honorary president

Report of First Annual Meeting of the National Association of Nurse Anesthetists (which would become the AANA Journal) is published

1934

In Chalmers-Francis v Nelson, the California Supreme Court affirms the finding for nurse anesthetist Dagmar Nelson in a ruling that confirmed the legality of nurse anesthesia practice. AANA files its first amicus brief for the case

1941

The AANA seal “The Watchful Care of the Sleeper by the Light of the Lamp of Learning” is adopted.

1945

AANA administers first nurse anesthetists qualifying (certification) exam to 90 women in 39 hospitals in 28 states, plus one in Territory of Hawaii

1947

The first issue of The NewsBulletin is published

1963

COL Mildred Irene Clark, CRNA, becomes first nurse anesthetist to serve as Chief of the Army Nurse Corps

1975

The Agatha Hodgins Award for Outstanding Accomplishment is first presented to Ruth Satterfield, CRNA

1981

The AANA Education and Research Foundation, today known as the AANA Foundation, is created

1986

Congress passes legislation providing CRNAs direct reimbursement under Medicare Part B, making nurse anesthesia the first nursing specialty/nonphysician group to be accorded direct reimbursement rights under Medicare

1990

AANA Federal Government Affairs office opens in Washington, D.C.

1992

The AANA purchases the new headquarters building 222 South Prospect Ave. in Park Ridge, Illinois

1996

The first AANA website is launched

2001

Iowa becomes the first state to opt out of the federal physician supervision requirement for nurse anesthetists

2012

Kentucky becomes the 17th state to opt out of the Federal Supervision Requirement